Transportation Sales Tax

Minnesota Shows Creativity on Transportation Sales Taxes

A transportation sales tax can be a designated state or local sales tax where revenues are used for transportation, or a sales tax applied to fuel sales. A bill in Minnesota would grab sales taxes paid on auto parts, car rentals and leases.

April 23, 2015 - KARE 11

Phoenix's $30 Billion Wish List for Transportation Spending

Phoenix's transit tax, Transit 2000, will expire in 2020. City leaders have prepared a 30-year plan for transportation to sell the idea of a renewed sales tax. Now taxpayers will have to decide if it’s the right kind of list for the city's future.

February 9, 2015 - The Arizona Republic

Poll: Voters Remain Opposed To Raising State Gas Taxes

Notwithstanding plummeting gas prices, Keith Laing of The Hill reports on poll results that reveal an uphill battle for political leaders in Utah, Georgia, and New Jersey, who are advocating gas tax increases to fund roads, bridges, and transit.

January 26, 2015 - The Hill

Op-Ed: Time to End Property Tax Funding for Transit in Toledo

The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority—one of the last agencies in the country to fund transit with property taxes—is unable to keep up with the times, according to an editorial arguing for a change.

January 20, 2015 - The Toledo Blade

Michigan Voters to Decide on Transportation Sales Tax

The Michigan legislature compromised on a plan to raise money for state transportation funding. Instead of increasing the fuel tax, voters will consider an increased sales tax that exempts the fuel tax.

December 22, 2014 - MLive

Calling for a Transportation Sales Tax in the Twin Cities

Citing the model of Houston's local-tax-funded Red Line, a writer argues for a local sales tax in the Twin Cities to support urban transit investments.

September 23, 2014 - Streets.MN

Two Transportation Measures Soundly Rejected in Missouri

With 100% of precincts reporting on Tuesday evening, Amendment 7, a .75 percent statewide sales tax measure funding a package of transportation improvements, was rejected by 59% of voters. Kansas City voters snubbed a measure to expand the streetcar.

August 6, 2014 - Fox2Now

Sales Tax or Tolling to Pay for MTA's Budget Shortfall?

The debate about ending the gas tax to fund transit capital projects has arrived in New York City, where the MTA is beset by a $12 billion shortfall. Although an increase in sales tax has its supporters, Stephen Miller and Move NY support tolling.

August 3, 2014 - Streetsblog New York City

Pending $5 Billion Transportation Sales Tax Redrawing Missouri's Political Map

Dave Helling details the political machinations behind the state of Missouri's proposed statewide transportation sales tax that will appear before voters in August.

June 21, 2014 - The Kansas City Star

States Address Impending Cut-off of Federal Transportation Funds

With federal highway funds likely to be cut off in August unless Congress can reach an agreement on a stopgap solution, some states, e.g., MO, VT, GA, AR have taken matters into their own hands to ensure that vital construction projects continue.

June 13, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

St. Louis Transportation Wish List: Bike Paths, Streetcars, Sidewalks

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay released a wish list of projects that could be funded by a proposed sales tax to fund transportation projects.

June 3, 2014 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Missouri Legislators Vote to Cut Income Tax, Raise Sales Tax for Transportation

After voting to override Governor Jay Nixon's veto of an income tax cut, legislators agreed to allow voters to determine whether to increase the state sales tax by .75% in November for ten years to increase funding for transportation programs.

May 18, 2014 - Columbia Daily Tribune

VMT Fee "Inevitable", Claims Minnesota DOT Chief

MnDOT Transportation Commissioner Charles Zelle needs to fill a $12 billion gap over the next 20 years. The most common question he's asked: "Can it be done without raising fees or taxes?" He stopped by The Mankato Free Press for an interview.

November 30, 2013 - The Mankato Free Press

A bus next to the re-located light rail station at Denver's Union Station

Denver Faces Light Rail vs. Bus Decision

The financial data is clear: BRT costs much less to go further and serve far more riders. Case closed, or is it? The Denver Post editors look at HNTB's cost and ridership estimates for the Northwest Rail Line and offer a recommendation, sort of.

October 11, 2013 - The Denver Post

Colorado Floats Sales Tax for Transportation

A transportation study group is rolling out a proposal to place a .7%, 10-year general sales tax on the 2014 ballot with two-thirds of the revenue going for roads and one-third for transit. The state's 22-cent gas tax hasn't been raised since 1991.

September 11, 2013 - The Denver Post

Can Atlanta Solve Its Transit Problems by Taxing Parking?

In the aftermath of the disappointing defeat of a one-cent regional sales tax transportation measure, the city council is considering two measures to raise transportation revenue, one being a parking tax based on a Georgia Tech masters thesis.

August 12, 2013 - Creative Loafing Atlanta

Minnesota Governor Backs Off Raising State Gas Tax

MN Gov. Mark Dayton, fearing that a statewide gas tax increase lacks popular support, will not back the legislature's proposal to raise it, but has affirmed his support for a regional general sales tax for transit. But it may not be that easy.

April 15, 2013 - StarTribune (Minneapolis)

Minnesota Gov. Unveils Plan to Fast Track Transit Funding

In a budget unveiled last month, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton proposed a .25 percent sales tax increase to fund an expansion of the Twin Cities metro area's public transit systems. The proposal has garnered enthusiastic support.

February 5, 2013 - The Minn Post

To Speed Up Transit Expansion, LA Turns Again to its Voters

Impatient with the rate at which previously approved sales tax increases are able to fund the vast expansion planned for the region's transit system, and lacking in federal support, local leaders are asking LA's voters to extend a 1/2 cent sales tax.

September 5, 2012 - the transport politic

Tomorrow's Transit Tax Vote is a Historic Day for Atlanta

Whatever Atlanta area voters decide when they head to the polls tomorrow to vote on a proposed 10-year, 1 percent sales tax to fund transit and road projects, the outcome will be a historic moment in the area's history. Ariel Hart puts it in context.

July 30, 2012 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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